Print developing apparatus



Nov. 8, 1966 G. GI-:GAUFF 3,283,690

PRINT DEVELOPING APPARATUS Filed June lO, 1964 F I 6.33 I ,4

ATTORNEY United States Patent O PRINT DEVELOPING APPARATUS Gustav Gegauf, 286 N. Broad St., Elizabeth, NJ. Filed June 10, 1964, Ser. No. 374,134 2 Claims. (Cl. 95-89) rFhis invention relates to an apparatus for developing prints, such as di-azotyfpe prints wherein a gaseous developer is employed. More specifically, it deals with a vertical stand apparatus wherein a container of gaseous developer source material is connected in closed relation to a swirrgable tube encasing the print, said tube being adapted to be closed in sealed relation with said container source when -in developing position. Other novel features include a novel container outlet closure, etc.

In photocopying processes, such :as the diazotype processs, the print is exposed to light and then developed in a l.gaseous atmosphere, such as ammonia. The developing apparatus employed generally are either excessively simple and rickety, or else they are very complex and expensive. The simple :apparatus usually involves a plastic tube placed over a tripod containing a small amount of the gas-liberating material, such as aqueous ammonia. T'his type of arrangement is highly unsatisfactory in that the tube containing the prin-t often falls down and must be propped up repeatedly, and the amount of aqueous ammonia is very limited, requiring frequent replenishing. Also, the odor of amrnonia permeates the premises and makes work therein uncomfortable, as well as unhealthy.

The complex apparatus, such as that described in patent 2,3 84,155, involves rollers, drive chains, blowers, and the like. Although there has Ibeen, for a |long time, a need for a suitable and satisfactory uncomplicated apparatus, none has so far been available.

According to the present invention, an apparatus has been developed which holds the print tube effectively, makes loading thereof exceedingly simple, permits use of a large container of developing vapor source, and provides a simple, yet very effective, sealing means for localizing the escape area of the developer vapor. The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which a preferred ernbodiment is described, and in which FIGURE 1 presents a `front elevational view of .a preferred apparatus for developing azotype prints with ammonia. FIGURE 2 illustrates .a side view thereof, wlhile FIGURE 3 depicts a top cross-sectional View taken along line 3,*3 of the apparatus shown in the previous iigures. FIGURE 4 shows a cross-sectional front View, partly cut away, of the vapor closure portion of `the apparatus. Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the various gures.

Referring again to the drawing, numeral y represents la flat base, preferably of wood or plastic, on which -rnay tbe set a large container of ammonia source, such as a plastic Ibottle 11, having an outlet neck 12. At the rear of base 10, at 17, Iare mounted two parallel, vertically-projecting tubular members 13l and 14, forming a stand for .the apparatus. Mounted on these members is a 'horizontal platform 15, having a substantially central opening 16. In opening 16 is inserted the top of tulbe 18 wlhich ts or screws tightly over neck 12 of bottle 11. Tube 18 preferably is made of plastic, and its upper end 19 may be flared outwardly to more effectively serve as a seal with stopper 20, which Ialso may be of soft plastic or rubber. A lead weight 21 is fastened to the bottom of stopper 20 by screw 22 to insure adequate seating of stopper 20 in end 19 of tube 118, although it permits j-ust a small amount of ammonia to leak into cylinder 27 to keep the unit ready for immediate developing. The Ibottom 23 of tube 18 may be flared out to adequately engage neck 12 of bottle 11. A 4rubber gasket 50 is disposed in tight sliding rel-ation around tube 18, and may be slid to tight gas-sealing [contact with the lbottom of platform 15.

Near the tops of upright support members 13 and 14, is welded plate 24 which is designed to serve as a support for pivot bolt 28. Cylinder 27 (preferably of transparent plastic) is attached to plate 29 by means of U- lbolts 30 and 31. Triangular cushions 32 may be inserted between cylinder 27 and plate 29 to protect said cylinder during the tightening of bolts 30 and 31. Centrally attached to 4the back of plate 29 is channel member 23 the ends of sides 25 and 26 of which are welded to plate 29, so that the central portion of the channel serves to house one end of pivot bolt 28. The latter is inserted through hole 51 in plate 24 and channel 23 in a manner such that plate 29, and cylinder 27 lattached thereto, may swivel around bolt 28.

The upper portion of cylinder 27 is covered with cap 33, while the lower open end 34 of cylinder 27 is disposed `above platform 15 for a distance adequate to permit end 34 to clear the platform when it is swung in a vertical plane, into position 27 as indicated by the broken lines in FIG. 1.

A tight fitting sleeve 35, also preferably of plastic, -is slid over the lower end of cylinder 27, and is designed so that it may be lowered so that its lower edge 36 is in flush and vapor-Sealing contact with the upper surface of platform 15 when cylinder 27 is in vertical position on the stand. Instead of a solid sleeve 35, it is possible to use a coil of plastic sheeting 35', the coil being held together by elastic rings 37 and 38.

Attached to the uprights .13 and 14, at the top, and adjacent platform 15, .are hanger .angle members 39 and 40, respectively, for mounting of the apparatus on a wall, if desired.

When in use, -stopper 20 is removed, and cylinder 27 is swung into position 27', and the exposed print, in rolled-up form, is inserted into cylinder 27' through open end 34. Thereafter, cylinder 27 is swung back into vertical position 27, and sleeve 35 is pulled down until its edge 36 is in flush and sealing relation with the surface of platform 15. When the apparatus is in this position, ammonia fumes diffuse into the cylinder from bottle 11 and through tube 18, and very little of the arnmonia escapes to the outside. After the -required developing time has elapsed, sleeve 35 is raised, cylinder 27 is swung out, the developed prints lare removed, and stopper 20 is replaced.

I claim:

1. A print developing lapparatus of lthe type described, comprising,

a a't base and an upright support connected thereto, said base being designed to hold a container having an open neck,

a horizontal platform mounted on said support and having an opening disposed a'bove a neck of a container which may be placed on said base,

,a tube designed to connect, at its lower end, in substantially sealing relation, to a neck of a container disposable on said base, and having its upper end held in said platform opening,

a swivel mounting attached to the upper end of said upright support, and havin-g a horizontal swivel,

a cylinder, closed 'on top, `and mounted on said swivel 3 l a short distance above said platform opening, in a References Cited by the Examiner nlllrnrfsglacldl thltcfirlrrllay be swung in a vertical plane UNITED STATES PATENTS c ip y l a tight-fitting Isleeve disposed in slideafble relation over 1,759,483 5/1930 Lzngsuer r- 95-89 the open end of said cylinder in .a manner such las 5 2,943,555 7/1960 Hlm 95-89 to provide a substantial vapor seal When its lower FOREIGN PATENTS edge is slid into contact Wiohsaid platform. 577 088 5/1933 Germany 2. A print developing apparatus according lto claim 1, in which the upper end of said tube is provided with NORTON ANSHER, Primary Exam-nen a Weighted stopper. 10 

1. A PRINT DEVELOPING APPARATUS OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED, COMPRISING, A FLAT BASE AND AN UPRIGHT SUPPORT CONNECTED THERETO, SAID BASE BEING DESIGNED TO HOLD A CONTAINER HAVING AN OPEN NECK, A HORIZONTAL PLATFORM MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT AND HAVING AN OPENING DISPOSED ABOVE A NECK OF A CONTAINER WHICH MAY BE PLACED ON SAID BASE, A TUBE DESIGNED TO CONNECT, AT ITS LOWER END, IN SUBSTANTIALLY SEALING RELATION, TO A NECK OF A CONTAINER DISPOSABLE ON SAID BASE, AND HAVING ITS UPPER END HELD IN SAID PLATFORM OPENING, A SWIVEL MOUNTING ATTACHED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID UPRIGHT SUPPORT, AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL SWIVEL, A CYLINDER, CLOSED ON TOP, AND MOUNTED ON SAID SWIVEL A SHORT DISTANCE ABOVE SAID PLATFORM OPENING, IN A MANNER SUCH THAT IT MAY BE SWUNG IN A VERTICAL PLANE CLEAR OF SAID PLATFORM, A TIGHT-FITTING SLEEVE DISPOSED IN SLIDEABLE RELATION OVER THE OPEN END OF SAID CYLINDER IN A MANNER SUCH AS TO PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIAL VAPOR SEAL WHEN ITS LOWER EDGE IS SLID INTO CONTACT WITH SAID PLATFORM. 